Here is how to put out a fire pit the right way: let the wood burn down, then drown the embers with plenty of water, stir them with a shovel, drown them again, and check with the back of your hand that nothing is still warm. If it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave. A gas fire pit is simpler: turn the burner off, close the gas supply, and let the pit cool before anyone touches it.
Always follow your local burn rules and fire department guidance.
How to put out a fire pit with water, step by step
Smokey Bear’s campfire guidance uses a four step routine: drown, stir, drown, feel.
- Stop adding wood early. Well before you want to go inside, let the fire burn down to ash and a small bed of coals.
- Drown. Pour lots of water over the fire until the hissing stops. Smokey Bear notes it takes more than a bit of water to fully put out a fire. Pour slowly from the side to avoid steam and ash blowback.
- Stir. Use a shovel to mix the water into the embers and ash. Scrape any sticks and logs until nothing is exposed or smoldering, not just the red pieces.
- Drown again. Keep adding water and stirring until all the material is cool.
- Feel. Hover the back of your hand over the ashes. If you still feel heat, repeat steps 2 to 4.
Keep a hose or a full bucket beside the pit every time you light a fire.
Put out fire pit with water: what happens to the bowl
Many steel fire pits have a drain hole. Ohioflame pits such as the Ohioflame Patriot Fire Pit (listed at about $1,028 at the time of writing) and the Ohioflame Liberty Fire Pit with Standard Base (about $325) have a Rain Drain, according to the listings, plus a 4 inch blocker plate and centering tee to close it off when you do not want ash falling through. With the drain open, expect ash water to run out underneath. A spare Ohioflame 4 inch Round Blocking Plate (about $25) covers the 1.5 inch drain until you are ready to clean out the bowl.
The dirt or sand method
Dirt and sand cut off air and help when water is limited, but Smokey Bear says not to put a fire out with just dirt or sand. Covering coals can hide heat rather than remove it.
If you use dirt or sand, treat it as part of the stir step. Mix it into the embers with a shovel, add water if you have any, and keep going until the pile is cool to the back of your hand.
Fire pit snuffer lid: what it can and cannot do
A solid lid starves the fire of oxygen, so flames die down. That is useful, but it has limits:
- Smothering is slow. Coals under a lid keep their heat. A lid does not cool anything; water does.
- The lid gets hot. Use gloves or tools.
- It is not the same as out. Under the drown, stir, feel standard, a covered fire is not finished until the ash is cool.
The Ohioflame Flat Fire Pit Lid (from about $225) is 3/16 inch American steel with two 1/4 inch steel handles, in 24, 30 and 36 inch sizes for select Patriot and Liberty pits, according to the listing. It is sold as a lid, not marketed as a snuffer. Use any lid after the fire is drowned, stirred and cold. If you want to contain sparks while the fire is still burning, the Ohioflame Spark Screen (from about $315) is the right tool. The listings note the lid and spark screen cannot be used together.
Comparing ways to extinguish a fire pit
| Method | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water (drown, stir, drown, feel) | Cools embers fast; the method Smokey Bear recommends | Messy ash slurry; steam; water drains out of open drain holes | Every wood fire, every time |
| Sand or dirt, stirred in | Works when water is short | Smokey Bear says not to use it alone; can hide hot coals | Backup, mixed with water |
| Snuffer or solid lid | Stops flames and sparks quickly | Coals stay hot for a long time; lid gets hot | Covering a pit after it is cool |
| Letting it burn down | Less wood left to soak | Embers can stay hot long after flames are gone | The first step only, never the last |
What not to do
- Do not leave a smoldering pit. No flames does not mean out.
- Do not dump hot ash into a trash can or paper bag.
- Do not throw water on a gas fire pit to shut it off. Use the controls.
- Do not walk away from a pit with kids or pets nearby while it is cooling. Our fire pit safety tips for kids and pets cover the no go zone.
Gas fire pit shutoff: the right order
A gas fire pit does not need water. Shut it down in this order:
- Turn the burner valve, key or control knob fully off. On a push button model, follow your manual to put out the pilot.
- Close the gas supply: the propane tank valve or the natural gas shutoff.
- On electronic ignition systems, cut power as your manual directs so the pit cannot restart.
- Let the fire glass, lava rock and burner pan cool fully before covering the pit. They look the same hot or cold.
Our guide on how to light a gas fire pit safely covers each ignition type and the manufacturer steps in detail. A licensed gas fitter and your local code have the final word on any gas installation or repair.
How long embers stay hot and when ashes are safe
Longer than most people expect. Living With Fire Lake Tahoe gives four days, or 96 hours, as the minimum recommended cooling period for ashes, and suggests checking them again after a week in a metal container to be sure they are cool.
Disposing of ashes safely
The U.S. Fire Administration gives clear rules:
- Let ashes cool before you dispose of them.
- Put them in a tightly covered metal container.
- Keep that container at least 10 feet from your home and any other buildings.
- Never empty ashes directly into a trash can.
- Pour water on the ashes.
A long handled shovel keeps your hands away from the bowl while you scoop. The Ohioflame Fire Shovel (about $60) is 34 inches long and hand forged from American steel, and the Ohioflame Fire Tools Package (about $113) pairs a 34 inch poker with 30 inch tongs for breaking up logs during the stir step. The listing notes each tool weighs about 10 pounds. See more from the Ohioflame brand, or start with our step by step guide to starting a fire pit to build a fire that burns down cleanly. Still choosing a pit? Read the fire pit buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just let my fire pit burn out overnight?
No. Embers stay hot long after the flames are gone. Drown, stir, drown and feel before bed.
Is it OK to extinguish a fire pit with water?
Yes. Water is the method Smokey Bear recommends for wood fires. Use plenty and stir it in.
Does a fire pit snuffer lid put the fire out?
A solid lid starves the flames, but the coals keep their heat. Cool the fire with water first.
How do I turn off a gas fire pit?
Turn the burner valve or knob off first, then close the propane tank or natural gas shutoff, then let the media cool. Follow your manual.
Where should I put fire pit ashes?
In a tightly covered metal container at least 10 feet from your house and other buildings, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Never put them straight into a trash can.
Questions about a fire pit, lid or tool set? Call us at 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Orders of $999 or more ship with free freight shipping; orders below that ship for a $200 flat rate. You can review our return and refund policy before you buy.
